J. Cole Cancels Show After Crew Member Dies

J. Cole’s Sacramento concert was abruptly canceled after a member of the rapper’s touring crew was killed while transporting equipment to the show.

The Thursday night performance had been scheduled for Golden 1 Center, but plans changed following an early-morning trucking accident on Interstate 5 near Woodland, California.

Authorities identified the driver as Jarlath Parkinson, 66, of Jackson, South Carolina.

Tour Equipment Was Coming From Seattle

A representative for J. Cole confirmed to CBS Sacramento that Parkinson had been hauling equipment needed for the Sacramento concert.

The truck was traveling south after J. Cole’s previous performance in Seattle.

The crash occurred shortly after 6:05 a.m. Thursday on southbound Interstate 5 in Yolo County.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the truck moved onto the right shoulder before the driver attempted to return to the roadway. Parkinson then lost control and the vehicle overturned.

Investigators had not determined the exact cause of the crash as of the latest reporting.

Golden 1 Center Cancels the Concert

Later Thursday, Golden 1 Center confirmed the death and announced that J. Cole’s performance would not go forward.

The venue expressed condolences to Parkinson’s family and loved ones.

Ticket buyers who purchased directly through Ticketmaster were told their refunds would be processed automatically, while customers who bought tickets elsewhere were directed back to their original point of purchase.

The cancellation came only hours before fans had expected to enter the arena.

A Tour Suddenly Takes a Somber Turn

J. Cole has been touring behind The Fall-Off, with a lengthy itinerary stretching across the United States before international dates later in the year.

His next scheduled concerts are in Oakland.

But the tragedy serves as a reminder of the enormous operation that moves behind a major arena tour.

While the performer is the person audiences see onstage, dozens of drivers, technicians, production workers and crew members travel from city to city to make each concert possible.

In this case, Parkinson was moving the equipment needed to build the next night’s show.

The music stopped instead.